Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.
Seth Godin
This modern artist sits in a coffee shop and creates with a digital tablet and pen. Just the act of watching him changes me.
Modern Artist
-
-
A Living Presence
The cathedral of the beaver ponds near Cowdrey, Colorado The indigenous peoples of this continent tried to teach us the value of the land, but unfortunately we could not understand them, blinded as we were by our dream of manifest destiny. Instead we were scandalized, because they insisted on living simply rather than working industriously. We desired to teach them our ways, never thinking that they could teach us theirs. Although we constantly depended on the peoples living here to guide us in establishing our settlements, we never saw ourselves as entering into a sacred land, a sacred space. We never experienced this land as they did—as a living presence not primarily to be used but to be revered and communed with.
Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth, Thomas Berry -
Silence…
Now at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Sun has set and the moon sits in the southern sky. Silence. This is why I come here. Full of gratitude for its gifts. Blackbirds and meadowlarks sing good night. Magpies fly above heading for the cottonwood trees along Claymore Lake to roost for the night. Such a lovely ecosystem that man made noise has a difficult time reaching. I am full of love for you and all of creation. Silence…
ms, journal: /30/2022 -
… just for me.
As I looked out across the meadow at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area on Saturday evening I was struck by the shape and contrast in the clouds, so I decided to take a photo. By the time I had gotten the camera out, nature continued its art of creation and added a touch of pink to the image, just for me. Then in a matter of 2-3 minutes it was gone.
-
Take off the cap…
Generally speaking, I’m not one to advocate photographic rules, but I do think it helps to take off the lens cap.
Catherine Jo MorganThe above image says a lot about my life/lifestyle. I use both a camera and a journal to record what I see and what I experience around me. I have carried both for many years on a daily basis. I enjoy the feel of both when they are in my hands. Both are an art form and require some skill in using them. We only get better when we practice them regularly. I thought the above quote was comical and is true for both the camera and the fountain pen. 😂
- clouds, horizons, journal, journaling, landscape, natural areas, Pineridge Natural Area, sunrises, writing/reading
A Sacred Place
The still waters of Dixon Reservoir A photo and excerpt from my journal this past July:
Tuesday morning at Pineridge Natural Area. Sun just rose on an almost cloudless horizon. Our meadowlarks sing joyfully. Thank you! Bless this day. Love the birds. I awoke early this morning so had a short night of sleep and may need a power nap later today. The sun is a blinding bright orange orb. It will soon heat up this July day. It is a glorious time of the day for me. My young friend, Kate’s car is here, so she is already up on Viewpoint Spur practicing her morning yoga/meditation. It is also a glorious time of the day for her. This is a sacred place for many. Yet, even in this sacredness I find my mind wandering away to the busyness of the day, fretting, planning and no longer present to the sounds and beauty of creation. I take a deep breath and return. I believe these mornings transform the core of who I am and is an integral part of my own evolution, becoming who I was created to be. A process I will continue to take until my final breath.
ms -
I wonder…
Bison are so iconic of Yellowstone National Park, and the Black Hills. They appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, as in this image, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. They can move at speeds up to 35Â mph and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop. So make sure you can outrun the person you are with! As I look at this image I wonder how many photographs have been taken of this bison.
